Improvement in wagon-bodies



B.. RANKI'N'. Wagon-Bodies.

INVENTOB z ATTURNEYSl Y WITNESSES s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

`BENTAMIN EANKIN, OE JEEEEEsONvILLE, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN WAGONBODIES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,416, dated August 25, 1874; applicationiled July 11,1874.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN RANKIN, of Jeffersonville, in the county of Fayette and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Wagon-Body, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved wagon-body; and Fig. 2, a vertical transverse section Ot' the same on line c c, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The- Object of my invention is to furnish 'a strong and durable wagon-body, which may be readily taken apart for unloading,`or for the purpose Of storage, while it is easily put up by any person, and forms a secure and rigid connection of the sides, end-gates, vand bottom parts. v

My invention consists of detachable sides and end-gates, which are iirmly bound to the lateral bottom pieces by hinged hook-bars of' the same, swung in upward direction, and by stationary hook-bars of the sides, in connection with a longitudinalA side chain applied by screw-bolts and cranks.

In the drawing, A represents the bottom of my improved Wagon-body, which is made, preferably, of longitudinal pieces a, of Which the middle ones are loose, so as to be detachable, while the outer pieces are bolted"^'"nto the lateral connecting-pieces B. The bottom A is thereby of suiiicient lightness to be `readily handled and placed upon the wagonbed by any person, the middle pieces being put in after the lateral pieces are in position. To both ends of the lateral bottom pieces B are firmly applied plates C, to which the side supporting-bars C1, with outwardlycurved hook ends, are hinged. The sides D of the body are-secured by means of inside bolts or pins b into holes b of the Outer bottoln strips aand the lateral pieces B, and provided with similar hook-bars G2, which are attached intermediately between the hinged hook-bars, extending from `the upper edge to a point slightly above the hooks of the Ylower bars. The end-gates E are placed by parallel guide-strips d over the ends of the sides, the front gate being arranged for temporary pur-` poses with hooks e, and-fastened to staples e" of the sides.V

The main connection of end-gates, sides,

and bottom is, however, `formed by longitudinal chains F, which are applied by screw-bolt and nut f to the front gate, and by a screwbolt f1, with inner hook end and outer detachable crank f2, to the rear end-gate, .being placed alternately Onto the hooks of the hinged and fixed bars C1 G2, so that by the turning Of the end cranks the rm binding cf sides and bottom in vertical, and of the sides and end-gates in horiontal, direction is Obtained.

For the purpose of discharging any load at Once', without the use of a scoop, the cranks are released from the screw-bolts, andthe chains detached from the hook-bars. The endgates are then taken Oii, and the sides raised Out'of their sockets.

. For storage, the bottom is also taken apart and detached from the supporting parts, to

be then putaway with the other parts, taking up comparatively small space, and being, in this state, fully protected against the influence of the weather, and not liable to remain exposed to the same for most of the time without shelter.

rEhe body remains thereby longer in serviceable condition, and is, On account of the easy replacing ot' the parts, within the control of a boy, while the common body requires two men to handle it.

Having thus described my invention,I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat-g ent- 1. The wagon-body composed of detachable bottom part with lateral connecting-pieces and hinged hook-bars, removable sides with intermediate iixed hook-bars, and detachable end-gates, all combined by longitudinal chains passing from the end-gates over the hook ends, substantially in the manner and fOr the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the hinged bottom hook-bars and fixed hook-bars, placed in opposite direction, with the binding-chains, attached by bolt and nut to one end-gate, and by adjustable hook-bolt and crank to the other, for rigidly connecting and readily detaching the parts of the body, substantially as set forth.

BENJAMIN RANKIN. Witnesses:

GEORGE C. CARPENTER, J osEPH HURLEss. 

